Round Robins

ROUND ROBINS (for full members only)

Several times a year there is a “ readability round robin” where a topic, title or theme is set with a word limit and a deadline. Entries are circulated to all members who critique using the criterion of readability.

Round Robin #71 - "Amazing"

The challenge is to write a story. It can be either fiction or fact. If it is based on fact, whether a personal memoir or not, it must

be told in your own words. The minimum length is 500 words and the maximum is 2000 words.

An up to 1000 word narrative about "A Life Changing Moment". Due 15th November.

5 Submissions, comments circulated 17th Decemer.

Round Robin #60

A photo of ‘personal
significance’ with a background story, either based on fact, or fictitious.

When commenting, members can give their
opinion as to whether each contribution is fact or fiction, and the truth will
be revealed later!

Result: 6 Submissions, comments circulated October 1.

Round Robin #59

A poem with a water theme (ie a reference to water plays a significant part in the poem).

Minimum length 100 words.

Result: 8 Submissions, comments circulated 9 August.

Round Robin #58

"A Conversation with a significant person"

in the form of a dialogue or script (ie not descriptive narrative). Maximum of 1000 words..

And the aim, as always, is readability.

Round Robin #57

"A Secret" - written in any form, up to 1000 words.

Some of the major forms of writing are Autobiographys/Memoirs, Essays, Articles, Journals/Diaries, Letters, Plays, Poems, Song Lyrics, and Speeches.

Perhaps entrants prefer or can create another form of writing? (Although our convention has been to limit ourselves to the written word and to not venture

into graphic art.)

And the aim is, READABILITY.

Round Robin #56

A Short Story of up to 1000 words, about An Encounter With A Stranger.

Entry deadline: Sunday January 18.

Deadline for voting and comments: Sunday February 1.

Announcement of results: Thursday February 5.

Feb 5 Update: 4 Entries Received. The winner, by the narrowest of margins from two other entries is Rogi with "DIGISLIP".

Round Robin #55

(1) A Poem with an Australian Historical Theme (no line limit); or

(2) A Short Story on a Theme of Travels Gone Wrong (could be a comedy, a drama or even a thriller - 1000 Words Max).

Entries due midnight Sunday November 23, 2014.

Dec 6 Update: 4 Entries Received. The winner is Paul with "The Mission of the Reverend William Ullathorne"

Round Robin #54

"A Mysterious Disappearance"

For the first time all judges were of one mind as to which is the best entry for this round robin.

Congratulations to Paul for his story "A Mysterious Disappearance"

Round Robin #49

A Letter. Length to 1000 Words. And the winner is: Meryl, for "Dear Fred"

Perhaps there is an apology to make, or a feeling to be expressed? Or the record needs to be straightened about events long past? Or you want to sign a

resignation letter "yours sincerely" and mean it because what you have written does not skirt around the real reasons for your departure?

These are just some ideas. What will you write about and to who? Obviously it doesn't have to be based on your or any other person's actual

experiences. We are also fiction writers after all.

Round Robin #48

The winner is Lynette with "Waking Up From the Dream"

The topic is "A Dream". Any genre (short story, poem, article). Also, any interprettation of the word "dream". (What we have

when we are asleep of course, but also maybe what we aspire to for our lives or perhaps something else).

No limitation on length. Entries due Sunday night, February 3, 2013.

Round Robin #47

A Speech. Length 400-1000 Words (2- 5 minutes when read aloud).

Deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday November 4.

The challenge is to write a speech. It can be on any topic that arouses some passion in you. It may be a current political or existing hot topic such as same-sex marriage, bringing troops home from the war, or banning cars from the CBD in favour of bicycles. Or it could be on an ‘oddball’ topic such as “boys should be taught baby care as part of their school education”. It may be a speech that you would make yourself, if offered a soapbox to stand on and a crowd to listen. Or, you can write the speech for a particular person or imaginary person to deliver to parliament, to make on TV, or to address an interest group of some kind.

The important element is that the speech should be short (maximum 5 minutes if reading it aloud), and should be written with passion, feeling, and adetermination to express a point of view. The speech should sound convincing, important and relevant in order to win audience support – so don’t hold back, use the power of words to win your audience and convince them to believe in your ideas.

place were Pam's “Letter to a Friend from a Disenfranchised Wife” and Ron's

“Light”.

Minimum 400 words, maximum 1000 words. Entries must be prose, not poetry. Please make up your title to your story. Story should be written as fiction, but can be based closely or loosely on real events.

A story which is highly readable regardless of breaking all the "rules".

Round Robin #41

"The world as we don't know it..."

October 8 Update: 6 Entries received; Les with "Too Close to the Sun" was the clear winner. Maureen's "The Lucky Country" and Meryl's "The Great Southland" were placed equal second.

The challenge: write a short fiction story, set in the present day, but in a world that is different to the world we know because an event in history did not happen, or had a different outcome. For example, what if Germany won World War II, or what if Captain Cook did not discover Australia? What if Russia and USA destroyed each other with nuclear missiles in the 1960s? You may use any of these ideas if you wish, or make up your own "alternate history". Either way, in your story the world must be different to the way we know it because of its different past. But, be aware that your story does not need to focus on the historical event; the challenge is to write a story set today in a world made different by its different past. Minimum 400 words, maximum 1000 words. Entries must be prose fiction, not poetry. Please make up your own title to your story.

The deadline is midnight on Sunday 4 September.

Round Robin #40

"Our Hawkesbury". August 5 Update: Jan was the clear winner, with entries by Julianne, Meryl and Pam in equal second place.

A poem or suite of poems about the Hawkesbury River. Minimum length: 14 lines. Maximum length: No maximum number of lines. If you can maintain a high enough standard for as many lines as are in Coleridge's "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner", or more, please feel free to do so. And the aim is "readability".

Round Robin #39.

"Dusty Jackets" - June 2 Update: The winner was Meryl with "Foggy Forecast"

Imagine you have been asked to write words for the dust jacket of a book. Or perhaps you are helping yourself to write your own book, by starting with the dust jacket as suggested by our most recent guest speaker.

Without restriction of content - it could be any combination of title, synopsis, blurb, author bio, testimonials, or ANYTHING else - the aim is to motivate a person browsing through a library, bookshop or friends bookshelf to READ THE BOOK. In this case "readability" translates to "motivating"! Please note that if you include the title, and it is for an existing work, it will need to be changed (see below).

The only rules are: (1) Words only. ie no layout or graphics; (2) If an already published book is being touted, it should not be possible to determine which one (ie no riding on the coat tails of already successful works); and (3) Minimum 150 words , maximum 400 words.

Round Robin #38

“A slice of my life”. April 7 Update: The winner was Ron, for "Bulletproof Me"

The challenge is to write a personal memoir about a specific period in your life which may have been as brief as a weekend, or a few weeks, or as long as a year or two. Regardless how long it lasted, it must be a slice of life with a new flavour for you. Perhaps you experienced a different culture, or a new activity or daily routine, or some completely new lifestyle.

Rules and Guidelines:

The minimum word length is 950 words; the maximum is 2500 words. It must be a genuine memoir, that is, a true account, not something you have made up. Do not use the title "A slice of my life", but create your own title. The overall aim is: Readability! The deadline is midnight on 28 February 2011.

Round Robin #37

“A rhyming ad”. Dec 2 Update: The winner was Pam, for: “Hot Bots”

RR #37 Rules and Guidelines:

The challenge is to write a short rhyming poem that is an advertisement. The aim: Entertainment! The poem must rhyme (or include rhymes). he maximun number of lines is 20, the minimum is 2. The poem must be an ad. It can be an ad for any product that people can buy, such as an ice-cream, a new car, a vacuum cleaner or a holiday. You can use any brand

names such as "Vegemite" or "Toyota". Or you can make up your own brand name for a new or even imaginary product. Or it can be an ad for a forthcoming event such asa church fete or concert. Absolutely anything that can be advertised is allowed as the theme for your poem. Deadline: midnight on 31 October.

10 Character description (person you met)11 The Joys of Travel12 Out of Body Experience13 Science Fiction14 Bush Ballad15 All the world’s a stage16 Story poem17 Song lyrics18 What if…19 Undiscovered Country20 Nightmare21 A story in poetry22 Another Place, Another Time23 The genuine article24 Love25 Comedy of Errors26 Mystery

27 A synopsis28 Enchanted29 Telephone Lines30 It’s a funny place31 Come and Bring your Camera32 A twist in the tale33 Biography in Verse34 Music